"Young Master Gao, you think too highly of this waiter. What qualification does he have to dine with us?"
"Your Magnificence, forgive us, but his attire… aren't you afraid he'll dirty Miss Lü's clothes?"
"Looking at him makes my skin crawl with germs. A low-class peasant, his very existence is a sin. Why must he shamelessly crowd into our circle?"
Everyone present was a darling of Qin Province's high society.
Hearing this, they deliberately fanned the flames, intending to escalate the situation.
Either a second-generation rich heir or a second-generation official.
Everyone knew why this gathering was being held. The Tang family was finished, and the Lü family held sole power, reportedly collaborating with enterprises from the provincial capital.
The situation of dominating Qin Province was bound to continue.
If the Gao family didn't seize this opportunity and get involved now, there would be no chance later.
The most convenient way to get involved was through marriage.
This banquet was, in essence, a proposal banquet.
Lü Yunxu was well aware of this, which was why she had asked Li Chonglou for help.
Yet now, in front of Gao Ming, she was clinging to a waiter, clearly intending to embarrass Gao Ming.
Who wouldn't want to attach themselves to a powerful entity?
Compared to Gao Ming, this fellow dressed as a waiter, Li Chonglou, was nothing!
"Brother Li, I apologize for the trouble. I didn't expect this." Lü Yunxu's delicate face turned ashen, almost bleeding, as the voices pricked her. She lowered her voice and apologized profusely, explaining, "This is Gao Ming. He is the eldest son of the Gao Group and has always had a good relationship with our Lü family. He wants to propose to me today, and due to our family's cooperation, I can't outright refuse him, so..."
She simply wanted to use Li Chonglou to reject Gao Ming's proposal.
She hadn't thought much about it, nor had she imagined it would bring trouble to Li Chonglou.
After all, in her heart, Li Chonglou was like a god, someone no one could shake.
Before she could finish, Li Chonglou interrupted, "Since we are here, let us make the best of it."
He had seen such scenes countless times and was immune to them.
These second-generation rich heirs seemed so childish and ridiculous in his eyes.
To bother with them would be beneath him.
Only Gao Ming's hidden, intense hostility could not be concealed from him.
However, since the ball had started rolling, it was too late to leave. He couldn't abandon Lü Yunxu, and in any case, this man named Gao Ming was not a suitable match for her.
Thus, he would help her get through this.
He looked directly at Gao Ming, unfazed by the sharp mockery around him, and replied, "Since you've so sincerely invited, I won't be polite."
With that, he took Lü Yunxu's arm and walked towards the newly decorated banquet hall.
Numerous staff members watched in stunned silence.
Wasn't this new boss too formidable, just dragging away Miss Lü in front of all the second-generation rich heirs in the city?
It was no less than a slap in Gao Ming's face, delivered publicly.
Gao Ming's face turned pale with rage, his fists clenched so tightly they bled, and he nearly bit his teeth to pieces.
His lackeys were even more indignant, wanting to kill Li Chonglou.
"A bunch of fools, Qin Province hasn't been this peaceful lately. Endure it!" Gao Ming took a deep breath, suppressing his inner anger, and snorted, "Tang Xiuzhu is dead."
"That brat Wu Zhijie is still lying in the hospital, unable to be a man for the rest of his life, all because they pushed those ants struggling at the bottom too far."
"Do you want to end up like them?"
"He's merely a waiter, just Lü Yunxu's shield. If I can't even deal with him, what face do I, Gao Ming, have to mingle in Qin Province?"
"Just wait. Today, at this gathering, I'll let him understand what it means to be a lowly toad."
It wasn't that he didn't want to crush Li Chonglou under his foot right now.
If it were his usual temperament, he might have even smashed the entire hotel by now.
But this banquet was too important for the Gao family.
Furthermore, Qin Province had been turbulent lately; second-generation rich heirs and second-generation officials were either dead or injured, making everyone in their circle uneasy.
They had become considerably more restrained.
Saying this, he led his men inside.
Everyone filed in, while the real waiters, filled with trepidation, didn't know what to do.
The floor manager hurried to inform Wang Dehai.
"What are you worried about? Just watch the show." Wang Dehai chuckled, "Give the order not to disturb President Li, and definitely don't expose his identity without authorization."
"If he wants to play, let him play to his heart's content."
"Also, when Jingwu returns with the clothes, bring them directly to me."
Although the floor manager was full of questions, he complied and left.
Wang Dehai had a playful expression, "Little brother, I didn't expect you to be so stylish, playing this game of a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"Brother here will help you put on a good show!"
He assumed Li Chonglou wanted to impress Lü Yunxu, after all, she was the daughter of the richest man.
What normal man wouldn't like her?
He didn't expect that Li Chonglou actually didn't want this to happen and was forced into a corner, utterly helpless.
At this moment, everyone had already entered the banquet hall.
Champagne sprayed, and the atmosphere intensified.
Gao Ming raised his glass and gazed at Li Chonglou from dozens of meters away, his eyes narrowed into slits, shooting out a cold glint.
He was already dissatisfied with Lü Yunxu's request to change the gathering venue to Desheng. Upon learning that she had changed the location for a waiter, his anger only intensified.
He didn't know Li Chonglou's true identity. Firstly, he didn't dabble in antiques, and secondly, he had never had a good relationship with Tang Xiuzhu.
Li Chonglou's affairs were first silenced by Tang Xiuzhu, and then by Lü Chenggong.
He had no way of knowing.
Judging by appearance is human nature.
No one would have imagined that a mere young man in his early twenties, dressed as a waiter, could be some formidable figure he had never heard of.
Since that was the case, today he would make this man kneel and beg for mercy in public.
However, with Lü Yunxu by his side, this matter needed careful planning to avoid backfiring and incurring Lü Yunxu's displeasure.
"Come here, have you prepared the things I asked for?" A sinister glint flashed in Gao Ming's eyes as he beckoned a second-generation rich heir underling.
"Everything is ready. Genuine, cost eighteen million, absolutely no problem. Young Master Gao, please be assured." The subordinate said obsequiously, taking out a square jewelry box carved from sandalwood.
Opening it, nestled within the brocade lining was a bracelet that was entirely emerald green, lustrous, and translucent.
Glass-type Emperor Green!
Gao Ming had long heard that Lü Chenggong was fond of antiques and curios.
Lü Yunxu had also become interested in this area recently, so she would surely be repulsed by gold, silver, and diamonds.
Therefore, he had his subordinate fly to Yue Province's Jiyin City, the hub for high-end jade, and bought this exceptionally fine bracelet at a high price.
It was meant for his proposal.
But now, he intended to use this item to make this insignificant waiter, Li Chonglou, utterly destitute!
This was the price for offending him.
"Give me the item." Gao Ming took the box, put down his wine glass, and walked towards Lü Yunxu.
The sinister look in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a fawning, flattering smile.